I Guess That This Seems to Make sense....

The next Chief Executive will finish Tung's term.

Beijing Wednesday cleared the way for the chief executive election on July 10 by officially deciding that Hong Kong's next leader will serve for just two years, until July 2007, instead of for a full five-year term.

The decision by the standing committee is binding and cannot be reinterpreted by the courts. I just don't understand why it is a standing committee. Is there also a sitting one? Or how about a sitting committee drinking tea and chatting about sports?

The argument by democrats here in Hong Kong have a point that the issue could have been dealt with by the Hong Kong courts. The courts here need some practice in interpreting the basic law since there will also be many other times when it will need to be interpreted.

It really is quite silly to have to go scampering to Beijing ever time there is a decision to be made. Particularly, since this issue is a kindof minor one.